Council crews clear major fly tip in Grays - with an investigation now underway
Officers cleared the site despite it being private land
A fly-tipping incident in Grays has been cleared by council officers and an investigation is now underway into its cause.
Despite the land being privately owned, Thurrock Council's Clean & Green Team attended the site outside of normal working hours to ensure the waste was removed quickly.
This was to prevent further environmental damage.
The operation included the removal of a "substantial quantity" of illegally dumped waste.
The council is investigating the incident and has collected evidence relating to potential offenders.
Councillor Richard Bingley, Leader of Thurrock Council, said:
“I am incredibly proud of our Clean & Green Team for their outstanding response to such a major fly-tip. Although this was on private land, the team still responded outside of normal working hours, which was an exception due to the significant impact on the local area.
"Civic pride and making sure we have a borough that we are all proud to be part of, is at the heart of what we are doing here in Thurrock. This clearance shows the pride our teams have in their work and the effort they put into their jobs to make sure our towns are clean and tidy.
“Fly-tipping is a criminal offence that blights communities and places an unnecessary financial burden on public services. We are cracking down on everyone involved in such illegal activities as we all have a legal duty when disposing of waste. I urge residents to ensure their waste is disposed of responsibly. Anyone arranging for rubbish to be removed should always check that the person collecting it is a registered waste carrier."